Company
VisionNet Solutions Inc. (VNet) provides the necessary Internet solutions for improving sales and reducing the time required to make quality decisions for logistic and creative workflows in two markets, Film & Television production (Film) and Convention & Visitor Events (CVB). VNet does this by supplying a versatile package of interconnected web applications called the Real-time Electronic Asset and Collaboration Tool, which we market as the ReAct web-application. These electronic tools enable our clients to save time and money, create better relationships with their customer base, and improve productivity through online workflow.
ReAct assists the entire business cycle from the inception of a project, to the collaborative process of multiple team members and external contractors working together, to the final presentation of a finished product. The tool has four distinct elements; 1) an administrative organizer to create or archive projects, 2) a business presentation platform to increase sales, 3) a project management environment for making better creative and logistical decisions, and 4) a digital asset library that allows for unlimited storage, customizable searches and instant transfers of archived media such as video clips, high resolution photographs and other large digital files. Integration of each of these tools is accomplished through an intuitive drag and drop interface, reducing numerous complicated or redundant tasks into simple ones.
Our Mission: To provide executive decision makers a more effective communication process through a suite of scalable web-based presentation and management tools.
VisionNet Services
Our services create, promote, manage, involve, archive and connect a wide array of professions, media, and communities.
We are currently supplying services to clients in the following markets:
• Film & Television Production • Film Commissions • Sports Commissions • Convention & Visitor BureausHistory
VisionNet began providing on-line media presentation and project management services to the Vancouver film industry in 2003. A group of location professionals, led by Michael Gazetas, focused on creating an internet-based tool that give them a competitive advantage by improving internet workflow.
The original name for this suite of multimedia tools was "VisionVancouver". Over a 3 year span, use of our services by the local film community made the process of filmmaking at all levels more efficient, and attracted significantly more film business to British Columbia.
Our portfolio and global outreach has expanded significantly since 2006, and now includes a number of services for digital asset management, sales, and project management. Using our tools, companies and individuals alike are now able to make more and better-informed decisions when faced with today''''s dizzying array of rich media content and file sharing requirements.
VisionNet’s on-line services are constantly being augmented to include the features and upgrades that have been requested by our clients.
Training and Support
The most mission critical objective for VisionNet is to support the business objectives of each of our clients. Immediate and effective adoption by managment teams and staff is crucial to experiencing an effective return after investing in a VisionNet web application.
Therefore, our integrated training and support systems WILL inspire your management, staff, and even your vendors to adopt best practices as they utilize our applications in their day-to-day operations.
VisionNet''''s core training is based on an effective 6 step process that includes:
Step 1: Understanding your unique workflow
Step 2: Digital asset integration
Step 3: Training of key management
Step 4: Workflow integration with your staff
Step 5: Training of key vendors and associated members
Step 6: Workflow integration with your community
Management
Michael Gazetas
Founder/CEO
A dual citizen of the United States and Canada, Mr. Gazetas has grown VisionNet Solutions from a $25,000 start-up to its current capitalization of $1.25 million, through the participation of Sweetwater Capital''s Interactive Technology Fund in 2007. A graduate of the UBC Film School program, Mr. Gazetas is well known for his enthusiasm and passion for life, love of cinema, and an appetite for large-scale projects.
Mr. Gazetas’ entrepreneurial approach and management skills led him to create BC''s first collaborative on-line scouting and project management system in 2003. This system allowed a director''s vision to be delivered quickly overseas, augmenting his Location Management career in the Vancouver Film industry from 1994 though 2006.
Mr. Gazetas is a born facilitator, and since leaving his location manager career he has continued to excel in leading teams, inspiring others, simplifying business processes, and providing outstanding customer care. Another key strength is listening and understanding the similarities between disparate groups with diverse technical and organizational needs.
Jim Cohen
Vice President, Business Development
Mr. Cohen works with the executive team as a senior advisor, helping set strategic directions, new business development and investor strategies.
Mr. Cohen has founded several businesses and served as a marketing consultant to major companies for over thirty years. His entrepreneurial successes include Liberty National Bank, ACH Financial Services (acquired by Electronic Data Systems), and a global dealer distribution network (acquired by Chrysler Corporation).
Mr. Cohen’s clientele have included Disney, Fox and Turner Broadcasting, Hughes Aircraft, Security Pacific and Northern Trust banks, General Motors, Chrysler and Penske Automotive Group. The Wall Street Journal, the Robb Report and the Journal of Estate Planners have published his articles and commentary nationally.
Alexis Hinde
Director of Operations
Mrs. Hinde has 12 years of experience as an Assistant Director in British Columbia’s busy film industry, and 2 years of experience as Manager of Special Projects with Pacific Arbour Group, a property development and management company. Her broad range of experience in high stakes, deadline driven industries makes her an invaluable asset in developing company policies and procedures, streamlining operations to maximize efficiency, and managing VNet''s Human Resources, Accounting, and Customer Care.
Her dedication, leadership skills and sense of humour are essential in building VisionNet''s core operations team, and overseeing all aspects of customer service and ongoing client education.
Frederick Salmo
Senior Sales Representative
Mr. Salmo is a native Chicagoan. He came to Los Angeles in 1985 and attended UCLA where he double majored in Film and Economics. After graduating in 1989, Frederick worked in production starting with commercials and music videos. He eventually moved into Feature Film production as a production coordinator at Tri-Star Pictures and 20th Century Fox.
Mr. Salmo then segued into feature film development with Davis Entertainment and 20th Century Fox. He worked closely with producers John Davis and J. Todd Harris. Frederick became the Director of Development for Davis Classics, the independent movie division of Davis Entertainment. Some credits include Sordid Lives directed by Del Shores with cast including Delta Burke, Beau Bridges and Leslie Jordan, Digging To China directed by Timothy Hutton and starring Evan Rachel Wood, Kevin Bacon and Mary Stuart Masterson, and Bad Manners starring Academy Award Nominee David Strathairn.
Mr. Salmo has been the sales team leader at P3 Production Update Magazine for the past 16 months and has helped the magazine increased profitability by 45% within the last 12 months. Mr. Salmo brings an extensive network of contacts with film commissions and production companies to the VisionNet team.
Mr. Salmo believes, as he does every year, that this is the year his beloved Chicago Cubs will win the World Series.
Brian Appleby
Sales Manager
Mr. Appleby hails from Kelowna, British Columbia in the Okanagan Valley. As a graduate of the University of British Columbia Okanagan’s Fine Arts department, as well as Vancouver Film School’s Film Production Program, Brian went on to work with the Okanagan Film Commission located in Kelowna as the Locations Service Officer. He has worked on countless ''extreme sports'' videos, several dramas and a independent documentary about methamphetamine use.
Mr. Appleby''s background has allowed him to better understand the unique needs of Production Companies, Film Commissions, and other organizations such as Convention and Visitor Bureaus. When not behind the camera, Mr. Appleby can be found on the golf course trying to teach the VisionNet staff how to keep their head down.
Advisory Board
Naveen Aggarwal
Business Advisor
President & Director of Sweetwater Capital''s Interactive Technology Fund
Mr. Aggarwal brings to the team 25 years of experience in software, hardware technology, and consulting services. His experience has been in telecom, financial, government, and retail vertical markets in the areas of development, sales, and marketing.
He has held senior level positions at leading international companies including Tibco Software. (G.M., Telecom Line of Business), Sun Microsystems, Netscape Communications, and Nortel, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Verrus Mobile Technologies Inc. and Valcent Products Inc.
Rick Chapman
Hospitality Industry Advisor
As President of Rick Chapman & Associates, and the joint venture of CS Meetings Direct with Sean Schaeffer, President of Silver Voyages, Mr. Chapman brings 30 years of hospitality experience to the management team of VisionNet Solutions Inc. With a background in hotel convention services, catering, audio / visual, tradeshows and sales beginning with the MGM Grand Reno in 1978, Mr. Chapman has developed a comprehensive understanding of the hotel convention industry.
Mr. Chapman has held senior sales positions at Bally’s Reno, the Silver Legacy Resort Casino, the Reno Hilton, and most recently the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino. Mr. Chapman has also held sales positions at the San Diego CVB, the Reno Sparks CVA, and Vice President of Sales for the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau. He has been an active member in numerous industry associations including IAEE, PCMA, MPI, and ASAE. Mr. Chapman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Diego State University.
Debra Langley
Marketing and Branding Advisor
Ms. Langley’s background is in media, brands and marketing. Born and educated in New Zealand, she worked for The Economist in Hong Kong, running their business information-publishing arm. She then moved to New York and joined the Hearst Corporation (Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Harper''s Bazaar) and ran Asia development for them - building joint ventures and launching magazines.
Ms. Langley then went to work for Michael Milken, where she was the founding executive, interim CEO and CMO of Miavita (www.Miavita.com), a healthy living website that was eventually sold to Matria, a healthcare company (NASDQ:MATR). Her involvement in various high-tech startups led to a three-year journey in Silicon Valley whereshe became involved with VisionNet.
She has recently moved to Singapore to lead DKNY''s Asia marketing strategy but is still an active member of the VisionNet advisory board.
Development & Design Team
Vibrant Software is a development and design company incorporated in Vancouver, Canada. Vibrant Software specializes in building mature, scalable web applications, making use of Php, MySql, Ajax, Smarty & the Zend Platform. Visit www.vibrant-software.com to learn more.
Consultants
Tim Brock
Financial Advisor
Tim is a venture capitalist specializing in the start-up of resource & technology companies. He has detailed experience in seed capital funding, and IPO’s for both Canadian and USA Venture Exchanges. His previous and current engagements include: Zoom Telephonic (NASD Zoom), Synenco Energy (SYN), War Eagle Mining Co. (WAR CDN TSX V), OilSands Quest (BPI AMEX) [formerly CanWest Petroleum Corp. (CWPC OTC BB)], and MegaWest Energy Corp. (MGWSF OTC BB).